Columbus, Kansas
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 37° 10.256 W 094° 50.590
15S E 336362 N 4115425
"The city of Columbus was organized through the election held in April, 1871. This was about a year after the coming of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad." ~ History of Cherokee County
Waymark Code: WMV6QH
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 03/05/2017
Views: 1
County of city: Cherokee County
Location of city: Geographic Center of county; crossroads of US-160 & US-69
County is farthest SE corner of the state
Courthouse location: 110 West Maple Street, Columbus
Elevation: 912 ft (278 m)
Population: 3,223 (2013)
"Columbus, the county seat of Cherokee County, is situate almost exactly in the geographical center of the county. It is of easy access, from all points; and its broad streets, its well platted blocks, its comfortable, well-built homes, its churches, schools and other public buildings, make it a much desired place for residence. It is at the crossing of three railroads,--the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis, the St. Louis & San Francisco and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas. Recently, as I have noted in the chapter on railroads, the first mentioned two roads have passed under the management of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Company, and the business of the two roads is now done through one office. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company s office is separate, and is conveniently located on East Maple street, the finest street in the city. The St. Louis & San Francisco station is in the northeastern part of the city, at the crossing of the tracks of the two branches of that road. It is the company's intention to build a station at a point more convenient for the public.
"The first mayor was Leland J. Webb, and the following are those who have succeeded: J. N. Ritter, 1872; T. P. Anderson, 1873; J. H. Ludlow, 1874-75; C. A. Sanders, 1876; George Hoyt, 1877; W. C Lykens, 1878; S. O. McDowell, 1879-80-81-82; C. E. Middaugh, 1883-84; E. A. Crewson, 1885-86; R. M. Cheshire, 1887-88; O. S. Butler, 1889-90-91-92; John Wiswell, 1893-94; S. O. McDowell, 1895-96; John Wiswell, 1897-98; J. O. Houx, 1899-1900; L. J. Slease, 1901-02; and W. T. Forkner, 1903-04. The mayors of the city have been chosen with a view to getting the best possible public service; and the affairs of the city have usually been in conservative hands. The expenditures, which have necessarily become larger every year, as the city has grown and has been compelled to look after larger interests, have been carefully guarded. As a rule the best men are chosen as councilmen. Sometimes the importance of this matter has been over-looked; but there is a growing tendency to avoid the mistake of electing other than well-informed, conservative men; for the people are watchful of such things, and they will not stand for the inefficiency of poorly informed officials." ~ History of Cherokee County, Kansas
and Representative Citizens, CHAPTER XII: THE HISTORY OF COLUMBUS; Ed. and comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904